THREE employees of Harare businessman Blessed “Boss JB” Charakupa appeared in court yesterday accused of participating in an armed robbery in which property, including two cars, worth over US$128,000, was stolen. Charakupa, who runs Club Zone night club in Highfield, is also implicated in the same case. He appeared in court in October last year facing similar charges was released on US$1,000 bail.
Yesterday, his three employees – Wallace Dekwende, Charles Sinoia and Tendai Samanyai – were not asked to plead when they appeared before Harare regional magistrate Jessie Kufa. They were released on US$500 bail each. According to the State, on September 30, last year, at around 2 am, Charakupa and his accomplices allegedly conspired to rob Emmanuel Kazingizi at his home in Marlbereign.
They allegedly forced their way into the house, threatened Kazingizi, and stole various valuables, including a Toyota Fortuner worth US$53,000, eight laptops, clothing valued at US$4,900, and US$16,330 in cash. During the robbery, Charakupa allegedly fired a shot into the air with an unidentified firearm and assaulted Kazingizi, accusing him of stealing his property. The total value of stolen property was US$122,000 and only US$60,300 worth of property was recovered.
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On the same night, the gang allegedly targeted a second victim, Kudakwashe Mutandwa, in the Paradise section of Highfield. The suspects forced their way into Mutandwa’s house, pointed a gun at him and assaulted him with a whipping rope and a hammer. The State claims the gang stole a refrigerator, stove, TV set, a Subaru vehicle, an Itel cellphone, and Samsung S23 smartphone, with a combined value of US$6,000.
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